The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-02

some signature TO copy. ABDUL had an
awkward trick of spreading the capital P
tian name in a style which was rather a
tickliSh thing to initiate; but it was not too
tickhsh for Edgar Allen Johnson-few
things were. Having locked this precious
document, with duplicate-and also the
genuine bill of lading from which he had
copied the signature-carefully into his
safe, he tore up and burned the various
spoiled and smeared sheets of letter paper
which lay about the floor. Then he turned
out the lights, locked the door, and went
down stairs
As he walked along the almost deserted
street her took out a cigar and lit it, And
as the match sprung into sudden brilliancy
it LIGHTED up his face, and showed that the
exp ession ON every feature was as serene
and tranquil as If his nights work had not
b0enthe preparation for a dastardly crime.
He did not go direct home, but strolled
down by the river, and finished two more
cigars. He carelesslY threw shilling to a
little crouching blue-hpped beggar lad who
stood shivering in the chill May wind on the
pavement.
God bless you, sir" gasped the aston
ished wait. gratefully.
Two days later, he received a note from
Messrs. Levi & Co., requesting him to call
"a request with which he lost no time in
The interview was brief, and
all he wished. The firm was will
ing to grant him the advance he required
upon the receipt of the duplicate bills of
lading from Alexandria, which they now
awaited.
Mr.. johnson took his leave, and repaired
to his office, where he told one of his clerks,
in a pre-occupied tone, to address an envel
ope, the forged bill of lading, and sealed it
up. Then he wrote a long gossipy letter to
a friend in Alexandria-an easy-going,
Northumberland" kind of fellow, who
would suspect nothing-and in postscript
asked him, as a special favor, to post the en-
closed letter for him in Alexandria on the
dav when the ship "EStrella was cleared"
Having dispatched this letter, he strolled
along to Castle street, and gave orders at
certain shop where he was not in the habit
of dealing for small, iron-bound box, to
be made and sent to his rooms with as little
delay as possible.
Three weeks later Mr.. johnson was again
in Messrs. Levi & Co. S office. The bill of
lading had been received, and all prelimi-
naries having been satisfactorily arranged,
and the necessary documents as to interest
having been duly signed, Mr. Levi drew his
check book toward him and signed check
for 10000.
And | trust, Mr.. johnson" he said, pom
as he tore off the precious slip, that
though it is our first transaction, it may not
be our last"
Our last!n repeated the echo in the cor
ner.
Mr.. johnson bowed with grace; but as he
took the paper from Mr.. Lewis hand, that
gentleman might have noticed that John
sons hands shook.
The Estrella was signalled in due course,
and Messrs. Levi & Co dispatched a clerk
to the docks for the ships papers.
The captain was on deck as the clerk
who, by the way, was named Davis-crossed
the gangway.
Good morning." returned the captain,
grutfiy.
Had a fine passageF pursued Davis.
"Middling."
Rather a heavy cargo this time, haven't
you"
mo, lighter than usual"
But" said Davis, with an air of sur
prise, ''you have got 1000 bales of cotton on
board from, PinerO & Co."
Haven't bale of cotton on board" re-
turned the captain
"What!" said the astonished clerk. care
you sure!
''Sure9 OF course Pm sure" answered
the captain, in surly tones "Who should
know, if don't"
"Well, may just so back again." said
Davis
YOU'D BETTER observed Capt. Marsh,
grimly; you'll not find what you're looking
for here"
Davis made his way back to his employ
ers' office, and with considerable trepidation
them of the nOn-arrivaI of the ex-
pected cargo. Dorrell turned pale, and Levi
fAfaf!x
'There must be SOM mistaken said the
former, hurriedly
Il don't know, I'm sure, sir" stammered
the clerk.
Don't you, you IDIOT" roared Mr. Levi.
''Who expected you to know. Leave the
roomm
A hurried telegram was dispatched to
the agents in Alexandria; and In the course
of a few hours the answer was flashed back:
mo such consignment dispatched to you.
Some mistake"
The partners LOOKED at each other against.
"Holy Abraham !" gasped Mr.. Levi.
GOOD heavensm calculated Mr.. Dor
rel.
Good heavens p echoed the Co.
In five minutes Mr.. Levi was driving flu
riously up to Exchange Court, where, it is
needless to say, he did not find any one con-
nected with the firm. The door leading to the
offices was locked, and card neatly tackled
on it, bearing the inscription
ION the Continent fer an indefinite pc
Rod"
Upon reading this announcement Mr..
Levi bust into the next Office with such sud
den violence that the clerks jumped from
their stools in dismay; but he learned, in an
swer to his almost inarticulate inquiries,
that the Office of johnson 6, Go. had been
closed for rather more than a week.
Upon arriving in James street, Mr.. Levi
was in a state of agonized rage and excite
ment battling description He was a sim
gularly choleric old gentleman, and he threw
himself into his chair, flinging his hat upon
the ground.
sWeve been swindled !" he almost shout
ed, excitedly. "Swindledm
''Swindled!n echoed the Co.. family
Mr.. Dorrell sat for few minutes pale and
silent: but in all firms of two or more part
ners there is usually one who talks, and one
who acts: and in this firm Mr.. Dorrell was
always the one who acted.
I'VE had better send for Bolton he said
at last; and Bolton, the celebrated detective,
was sent for.
Bolton said little, but listened gravely and
to Mr. Dorrell's calm state
ments, and with seeming sympathy to Mr.
Lewis .incoherent rawlings. Mr.. Skimp
meekly ventured the remark that 'he
hadn't thought much of johnson from the
first" which irritating remark was repaid
by the senior partner with whitening
glance at Skimp, which caused him to sub
side into his corner.
All the documents were produced and
carefullv examined bV Bolton who after